Effects of methadone on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in dogs

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Comparison of Methods for Evaluating Mineral Loss: Hardness versus Synchrotron Microcomputed Tomography

This study analyzed degrees of demineralization in bovine enamel using synchrotron microcomputed tomography (SMCT) and hardness measurements (Knoop hardness number, KHN). For 5 days, 40 bovine enamel blocks were individually subjected to a pH cycling model and treatment with fluoride dentifrices (placebo, 275, 550 and 1,100 mu g F/g) diluted in deionized water twice a day. Surface hardness number and cross-sectional profiles of hardness and mineral concentration (by SMCT) were determined. Integrated hardness (KHN x mu m) for sound and demineralized specimens was calculated and subtracted to give the integrated loss of hardness (Delta KHN) for the lesions. Increasing fluoride concentration in the dentifrices led to higher values for surface hardness after pH cycling and mineral concentration (g(HAp) cm(-3)), and lower values for Delta KHN (p < 0.05). From the present results, it may be concluded that hardness measurements revealed demineralization in all groups, which was lower in groups treated with dentifrice with a higher F concentration. SMCT and hardness measurements gave similar results in areas with higher demineralization, but diverged in areas with lower demineralization. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

Development and application of methods for determination of residual monomer in dental acrylic resins using high performance liquid chromatography

Two high-performance liquid chromatographic methods for determination of residual monomer in dental acrylic resins are described. Monomers were detected by their UV absorbance at 230 nm, on a Nucleosil((R)) C-18 (5 mu m particle size, 100 angstrom pore size, 15 x 0.46 cm i.d.) column. The separation was performed using acetonitrile-water (55:45 v/v) containing 0.01% triethylamine (TEA) for methyl methacrylate and butyl methacrylate, and acetonitrile-water (60:40 v/v) containing 0.01% TEA for isobutyl methacrylate and 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate as mobile phases, at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. Good linear relationships were obtained in the concentration range 5.0-80.0 mu g/mL for methyl methacrylate, 10.0-160.0 mu g/mL for butyl methacrylate, 50.0-500.0 mu g/mL for isobutyl methacrylate and 2.5-180.0 mu g/mL for 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate. Adequate assay for intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy was observed during the validation process. An extraction procedure to remove residual monomer from the acrylic resins was also established. Residual monomer was obtained from broken specimens of acrylic disks using methanol as extraction solvent for 2 h in an ice-bath. The developed methods and the extraction procedure were applied to dental acrylic resins, tested with or without post-polymerization treatments, and proved to be accurate and precise for the determination of residual monomer content of the materials evaluated. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Diagnosis of Giardia infections by PCR-based methods in children of an endemic area

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Analytical Methods in Photoelectrochemical Treatment of Phenol

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Phase transition in dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide and chloride vesicles prepared by different methods

The gel to liquid crystalline phase transition of the double-chained cationic dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride and bromide (DODAX, X = Cl- or Br-) in aqueous vesicle dispersions prepared by non-sonication, sonication and extrusion has been investigated using high-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The transition temperature (T-m) is a function of the preparation method, amphiphile concentration, vesicle curvature and nature of the counterion. DSC thermograms for DODAB and DODAC non-sonicated vesicle dispersions exhibit a single endothermic peak at T-m roughly independent of concentration up to 10 mM. Extrusion broadens the transition peak and shifts T-m downwards. Sonication, however, broadens slightly the transition peak and tends to shift T-m upwards suggesting that extrusion and sonication form vesicles with different characteristics. DODAC always exhibits higher T-m than DODAB irrespective of the preparation method. T-m changes as follows: T-m (sonicated) greater than or equal to T-m (non-sonicated) > T-m (extruded). Hysteresis of about 7 degrees C was observed for DODAB vesicle dispersions. (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V. Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of Carbamide Peroxide Bleaching Gel Concentration on the Bond Strength of Dental Substrates and Resin Composite

Purpose: This study evaluated the effect of bleaching gel containing 10%, 15% and 20% carbamide peroxide (CP) on the bond strength of dental enamel or dentin and resin composite restorations.Methods: The buccal surfaces of 12 bovine tooth crowns were conditioned with 37% phosphoric acid, and the adhesive resin Single Bond 2 and the resin composite Filtek Z350 were used to perform the restorations. The blocks were sectioned to obtain bar specimens. Each specimen group (enamel-E, dentin-D) was divided into four subgroups (n=15): S-artificial saliva; 10-10% CP bleaching; 15-15% CP bleaching; 20-20% CP bleaching. CP was applied for six hours daily for two weeks. The specimens were submitted to the a test in a universal testing machine. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and the Tukey post-hoc test and a correlation analysis (r) was performed.Results: For Group E, the mean value (+/- standard-deviation) was 21.86 (+/- 6.03)a, 18.91 (+/- 8.31)ab, 15.43 (+/- 7.44)b and 10.6 (+/- 4.94)c for ES, E10, E15 and E20, respectively. For Group D, the alpha values were 34.73 (+/- 4.68)a, 35.12 (+/- 13.43)a, 29.67 (+/- 6.84)ab and 24.56 (+/- 6.54)b for DS, D10, D15 and D20, respectively. A negative correlation between the CP concentration and mean values was observed for both the enamel (r=-0.95) and dentin (r=-0.85) groups.Conclusion: In the current study, the bond strength of the restoration to enamel and the restoration to dentin were influenced by the application of CP and was dependent on the CP concentration in the bleaching gel.

Agarose gel electrophoresis of cerebrospinal fluid proteins of dogs after sample concentration using a membrane microconcentrator technique

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is produced in the cerebral ventricles through ultrafiltration of plasma and active transport mechanisms. Evaluation of proteins in CSF may provide important information about the production of immunoglobulins within the central nervous system as well as possible disturbances in the blood-brain barrier. Objective: the objective of this study was to measure the concentration and fractions of protein in CSF samples using a membrane microconcentrator technique followed by electrophoresis, and to compare the protein fractions obtained with those in serum. Methods: CSF samples from 3 healthy dogs and 3 dogs with canine distemper virus infection were concentrated using a membrane microconcentrator having a 0.5 to 30,000 d nominal molecular weight limit (Ultrafree, Millipore, Billerica, MA, USA). Protein concentration was determined before and after concentration. Agarose gel electrophoresis was done on concentrated CSF samples, serum, and serial dilutions of one of the CSF samples. Results: Electrophoretic bands were clearly identified in densitometer tracings in CSF samples with protein concentrations as low as 1.3 g/dL. The higher CSF protein concentration in dogs with distemper was mainly the result of increased albumin concentration. Conclusion: the microconcentrating method used in this study enables characterization of the main protein fractions in CSF by routine electrophoresis and may be useful for interpreting the underlying cause of changes in CSF protein concentrations

Effect of temperature on the interaction between the nonionic surfactant C(12)E(5) and poly(ethylene oxide) investigated by dynamic light scattering and fluorescence methods

The interaction between the nonionic surfactant C(12)E(5) and a high molar mass (M = 5.94 x 10(5)) poly(ethylene oxide) (PEG) in aqueous solution has been examined as a function of temperature by dynamic light scattering and fluorescence methods over a broad concentration range. Clusters of small surfactant micelles form within the PEO coil, leading to its extension. The hydrodynamic radius of the complex increases strongly with temperature as well as with the concentrations of surfactant and polymer. At high concentrations of the surfactant, the coil/micellar cluster complex coexists with free C(12)E(5) micelles in the solution. Fluorescence quenching measurements show a moderate micellar growth from 155 to 203 monomers in PEO-free solutions of C(12)E(5) over a wide concentration range (0.02-2.5%) at 8 degrees C. Below 0.25% C(12)E(5), the average aggregation number (N) of the micelles is smaller in the presence of PEO than in its absence. However, N increases with increasing surfactant concentration up to a plateau value of about 270 at about 1.2% (ca. 30 mM) C(12)E(5). At high surfactant concentrations, N is larger in the presence of polymer than in its absence, a finding which is connected to a significant lowering of the clouding temperature due to the PEO at these compositions. Similar results of increasing aggregation number followed by a plateau were also found at a fixed concentration of surfactant (2.5%) and varied PEO.

Correlation between acidic ninhydrin and HPLC methods to evaluate fraudulent addition of whey in milk

The acidic ninhydrin spectrophotometric method (ANSM) for quantitative determination of free and bound sialic acid of milk glycoprotein has been proved to be fast and efficient for routine detection of fraudulent addition of rennet whey to fluid milk. In this research the ANSM was compared with the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method, internationally recommended for caseinomacropeptide (CMP) determination, which besides its high accuracy is more sophisticated and requires trained personnel. For several sample conditions (raw milk and milk with variable added amounts of rennet cheese whey), the methods showed an excellent linear correlation, with r = 0.981 when milk was deproteinized with a 120 g.L-1 final concentration of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) concentration. The best correlations could be seen with final concentrations of 100 g.L-1 and 80 g.L-1 TCA; respectively, r = 0.992 and 0.993.

Histopathological observations of periapical repair in teeth with radiolucent areas submitted to two different methods of root canal treatment

Dogs' teeth with induced chronic periapical periodontitis were treated endodontically by two different methods, and the results were compared. A total of 40 root canals from the upper and lower premolars of two dogs were prepared chemomechanically. In method 1, a high-concentration (5.25%) hypochlorite solution was used during the instrumentation of the root canal, and an antibacterial dressing was applied between sessions, followed by filling of the root canal. In method 2, a low-concentration (0.5%) sodium hypochlorite solution was used as an adjunct to mechanical debridement, and the root canal was filled during the same session. The histopathological results showed that method 1 led to better periapical repair than method 2.

Comparison of two methods of synchronization of estrus in brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The workload and plasma ion concentration in a training match session of high-goal (elite) polo ponies

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Interaction of the nonionic surfactant C12E8 with high molar mass poly(ethylene oxide) studied by dynamic light scattering and fluorescence quenching methods

Dynamic light scattering has been used to investigate ternary aqueous solutions of n-dodecyl octaoxyethylene glycol monoetber (C12E8) with high molar mass poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). The measurements were made at 20 °C, always below the cloud point temperature (Tc) of the mixed solutions. The relaxation time distributions are bimodal at higher PEO and surfactant concentrations, owing to the preacute of free surfactant micelles, which coexist with the slower component, representing the polymer coil/micellar cluster comptex. As the surfactant concentration is increased, the apparent hydrodynamic radius (RH) of the coil becomes progressively larger. It is suggested that the complex structure consists of clusters of micelles sited within the polymer coil, as previously concluded for the PEO-C12E8-water system. However. C12E8 interacts less strongly than C12E8 with PEO; at low concentrations of surfactant the complex does not contribute significantly to the total scattered intensity. The perturbation of the PEO coil radius with C12E8 is also smaller than that in the C12E8 system. The addition of PEO strongly decreases the clouding temperature of the system, as previously observed for C12E8/PEO mixtures in solution Addition of PEO up to 0.2% to C12E8 (10 wt %) solutions doss not alter the aggregation number (Nagg) of the micelles probably because the surfactant monomers are equally partitioned as bound and unbound micelles. The critical micelle concentration (cmc), obtained from the I1/I3 ratio (a measure of the dependence of the vibronic band intensities on the pyrene probe environment), does not change when PEO is added, suggesting that for neutral polymer/surfactant systems the trends in Nagg and the cmc do not unambiguously reflect the strength of interaction.

Comparative study of disk diffusion and microdilution methods for evaluation of antifungal activity of natural compounds against medical yeasts Candida spp and Cryptococcus sp

Antifungal activity of natural products has been tested by adapting methods designed for synthetic drugs. In this study, two methods for the determination of antifungal activity of natural products, agar diffusion and broth microdilution, the CLSI reference methods for synthetic drugs, are compared and discussed. The microdilution method was more sensitive. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of crude extracts, fractions and pure substances from different species of the plant families Piperaceae, Rubiaceae, Clusiaceae, Fabaceae and Lauraceae, from the Biota project, were determined. Antifungal activities against Candida albicans, C.krusei, C.parapsilosis and Cryptococcus neoformans were produced by several samples.